This small vase is made from Honsusutake, antique bamboo that spent 150 years as part of a thatched roof in a traditional Japanese farmhouse. Over a century and a half, smoke rising from the sunken hearth naturally seasoned the bamboo, curing it to a deep, warm amber-chestnut patina that simply cannot be recreated by modern methods.
When the old roof was renovated, the historic beams were taken down and repurposed, and the remaining offcuts were cut by hand into these compact vases. Sized specifically for a tea table or alcove, each piece carries marks of time, smoke, and age.
Because raw antique bamboo should not hold water directly, each vase comes with a small glass insert that slips neatly inside. Fill the glass with water for fresh blooms, or take it out when displaying dry branches or winter seeds. I tracked down these small glass inserts at a local glass shop here in the Czech Republic. Don't expect delicate Japanese tea-room refinement from the glass itself, it is pure Czech practicality. It slips neatly inside, stays completely hidden when the vase is dressed with flowers, and does its job perfectly.
Dimensions:
L: ø 2 in, 6.3 in tall // ø 5 cm, 16.5 cm tall
M: ø 1.6 in, 5.1 in tall // ø 4.5 cm, 13.5 cm tall
S: ø 1.2 in, 5.1 in tall // ø 3.5 cm, 13 cm tall
One of Bamboo Vase size M have fine cracks. This piece has fine hairline cracks along the bamboo stalk (please see photos). It’s impossible to say whether they formed 70 years ago while serving as roof timber in the farmhouse rafters or when the bamboo was cut down for the vase. Because this is a natural plant material that is at least 150 years old, I can't promise whether it will crack further over time. In general, any bamboo can develop cracks as it responds to air and seasons. It's simply part of its natural life and aged character.
